8 h. ago Ben Stokes warns England players to take Australian media frenzy in their stride

‘We can’t prepare how the has-beens maybe prepared’Captain says warmup will be ‘balls to the wall’ for squadBen Stokes has warned England’s players to be wary of an Australian media desperate to pounce on any indiscretion or hint of scandal, saying he and his team have already been the subject of some “unbelievable journalism” and that such treatment is “part of being in Australia it’s not just stuff out on the field that can get you, it’s also the off-field stuff.”The England captain’s disgruntlement with his side’s treatment in the press extends to recent criticism of their preparations, with Stokes hitting out at the “has beens” who have been leading the chorus of complaint and insisting that “we leave no stone unturned” and “have prepared incredibly well”. Continue reading...

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9 h. ago Ben Stokes dismisses criticism of Ashes preparations from ‘has

Ex-Australia opener Simon Katich joined attacks on England’s schedule, telling the West Australian newspaper it was ‘asking for trouble’.

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25 h. ago Let the mind games begin! Australia's papers open fire on 'dopey', 'arrogant' and 'cocky' England cricketers as they go for first Ashes away win in 14 years

Australia's media have refused to roll out the red carpet for their guests this winter, with Ben Stokes' England the subject of brutal jesting just 10 days out from the first Ashes Test.

Events

26 h. ago Ben Stokes in ‘beast mode’ for Ashes after injury setback, claims England star

Ben Duckett is full of admiration for the way England captain Ben Stokes is preparing for the Ashes after injuring his shoulder in the summer

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26 h. ago Trescothick defends England’s Ashes buildup and shrugs off hypocrisy jibes

Botham echoes criticism over single warm-up gameTrescothick laughs off linking mints to SandpapergateMarcus Trescothick has defended England’s Ashes preparations after Ian Botham joined a chorus of criticism from former players over the decision to schedule just a single warm-up game, saying ex-professionals need to bear in mind that “times have dramatically changed in the way that cricket is done”.England’s assistant coach also laughed off attempts from the Australian media to compare his use of mints to help the ball swing in the 2005 Ashes with their own players’ notorious Sandpapergate controversy. Continue reading...

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33 h. ago Ian Botham fires new salvo at England’s lack of Ashes preparations

England to play just one intra-squad match before start of seriesTourists need more red-ball practice, says former all-rounderIan Botham has launched a fresh broadside at the decision by England to arrange just a single intra-squad match before the start of the Ashes, saying the tourists need more red ball practice in Australia and time to get used to local crowds.The last group of England’s players only arrived in Perth on Sunday, less than two weeks before the start of the first Test on 21 November. England will play the Lions on Thursday in their only Ashes warm-up. Continue reading...

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6 d. ago Ashes winner drops verdict on how Ben Stokes will respond to Australian media criticism

Ben Stokes has been targeted by the Australian media, but his former team-mate believes that could prove to be a mistake

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6 d. ago Steven Finn says one thing will fire up captain Ben Stokes ahead of Ashes

England skipper Stokes was branded “Cocky Captain Complainer” by an Australian newspaper upon his arrival Down Under.

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6 d. ago Ben Stokes thrives when he has a point to prove, says Steven Finn ahead of Ashes

England skipper Stokes was branded “Cocky Captain Complainer” by an Australian newspaper upon his arrival Down Under.

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7 d. ago Ben Stokes branded ‘Cocky Captain Complainer’ by Australian media as he arrives for Ashes showdown

Ben Stokes has been targeted by the Australian media with just over two weeks until the Ashes gets underway

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7 d. ago Welcome to Australia – media hit out at Ben Stokes on his arrival for the Ashes

The build-up has begun in earnest to the first Test in Perth later this month.

Events

7 d. ago ‘Baz Bawl’: Australian media stoke Ashes rivalry with welcome for England’s Stokes

Captain labelled a ‘Cocky Complainer’ on arrival in PerthArticle critical of Stokes and McCullum’s positive tacticsAustralian media gave Ben Stokes a scathing welcome to the country in the buildup to the Ashes. A picture of the England captain pushing a trolley laden with luggage at the airport was accompanied by the headline “Baz Bawl” on the front page of the West Australian newspaper.“England’s Cocky Captain Complainer, still smarting from ‘crease-gate’ lands in Perth early thinking dopey “BazBall’ can take the Ashes,” read the subhead in reference to an incident in the last series when Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped. The article went on to criticise England’s tactics under Stokes and the head coach, Brendon McCullum, describing it as “carefree and careless thrash batting”. Continue reading...

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7 d. ago England’s Ben Stokes gets hostile reception from Australian media ahead of Ashes

The build-up has begun in earnest to the first Test in Perth later this month.

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8 d. ago England hand central contract to Jacob Bethell as Ben Stokes future confirmed ahead of Ashes

Bethell was previously on a development deal but earns an upgrade after a breakthrough year

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8 d. ago Anthony Hopkins criticised by ADHD and autism advocates after dismissing neurodivergent labels as ‘nonsense’

The Oscar-winning actor, who believes he may be neurodivergent himself, claims society is overusing medical labels to describe normal aspects of human behaviour

Events

3 w. ago Kevin Pietersen reveals tennis ball trick to prepare for Mitchell Johnson speed in Ashes

Pietersen discussed how he got ready for Australian seamer Johnson in the first Test of the 2013/14 Ashes

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3 w. ago Pentagon sparks criticism after dismissing Netflix’s gay military drama Boots as ‘woke garbage’

‘Boots’ follows a closeted gay teenager who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps

Events

3 w. ago No Ashes talk in England camp, says Harry Brook before New Zealand series

White-ball captain’s focus ‘in the moment’ before T20sBlack Cap luminary Tim Southee set for coaching roleHarry Brook says there has been no Ashes talk in the England camp as the tourists prepare for “a hell of a long winter”, with the white-ball captain’s determination to “stay in the moment” so strong that he has not even noticed the ramping-up of pre-series trash talk by David Warner and Stuart Broad.The England squad arrived in Christchurch on Wednesday after the three-day bonding break in Queenstown for their six-match series against New Zealand, which concludes in Wellington on 1 November. Continue reading...

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last month England’s Ashes preparation borders on arrogance – Lord Ian Botham

The former England all-rounder is worried Ben Stokes’ side will be underprepared for the first Test in Perth due to the lack of warm-up matches.

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last month Brydon Carse reveals Stokes and Wood are close to 100% and raring to go for Ashes

England duo trained in nets on injury comeback trailCarse insists he’s looking forward to Australia fan verbalsBen Stokes and Mark Wood are expected to be “raring to go” for the start of the Ashes next month, offering England a timely boost that sits in contrast to Australia’s ongoing concerns over the fitness of Pat Cummins.As the two seamers with prior experience of playing Test cricket in Australia, Stokes and Wood are central to England’s plans this winter. Stokes missed the fifth Test against India with a shoulder injury, however, while Wood sat out the entire summer following knee surgery back in March. Continue reading...

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